Cranium suspender



Nov. 6, 1951 J. D. PHILLIPS CRANIUM SUSPENDER Filed Oct. 17, 1950 INVENTOR. a/OHN 0 H/LL/PS Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED? PATENT OFFICE sUs'PE'NDER John-D. Phillips, St. Petersburg, Fla.- Applicatioiifflctobei' 17, 1950, Serial No. 190,508"

This invention relates particularly to a cranium suspender for and method or adjusting the vertebrae of the spine or the skull.

Applicant has discovered that suspension of the cranium through pressure on the upper jaw for the anterior and/or lateral suspension creates a type of traction that is directly beneficial in correcting malpositions of the skull and/or the vertebrae of the spine.

This improved method is carried out by" a bit member placed in the mouth to which is connected suitable harness for exerting the necessary traction.

It is therefore a primeobject of the present invention to provide a novel method for adjusting malpositions of the-skull and/or vertebrae that ishighly efficient in 'use-.

Another object ofthe invention-is to provide a novel method of adjusting malpo'sitions of the skull and/or vertebrae by" lifting: the front part of the craniumby pressure on-the upper-jaw;

Another object of the invention to provide a cranium suspender thatishighlyefficient-in suspending the cranium for relieving pressure onthe spinal cord.

Another object of the presentinvention is" to provide a cranium Suspender that'- utilizes the upper jaw for suspension.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind that is-easily-ap'plied' on the head by a person not necessarily skilled in this lineof work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cranium suspender' that does'-'not'- subject the muscles of the neck to extreme tension, so that adjustment of malpositions of the vertebrae of the spine or skull isfacilitated.

Another object is to provide" a. cranium suspender that is simple in construction; economical to manufacture and highly efficient use.

The invention broadly comprehends' a novel method of suspending the skull by lifting the cranium through pressure on theupper awam on the back of the skull. This is, accomplished b placing a bit in the mouth and connecting suitable harness to thebit and back of the skull for supplying the necessary traction.

The invention will be better understood from the description thereof to follow taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in Which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a cranium suspender embodying my invention applied to the head of a person.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view ofthe cranium suspender.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View on an enlarged scale of the bit member used with-thesuspender.

't Glaims. (01.128476 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary edge view showing-a strap adjustment.

Fig. '5 is a side viewthereof.

Fig. -6 is a fragmentary detail side view of the end of a strap.

Fig. 7 is an edge view thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved cranium suspender comprisesa sectioned front strap in and a sectioned rear strapl-l formed of leather or other suitable material. The straps are folded midway their ends and converge toward the center as viewed in Fig; 1 where the folded portions overlap formingan inverted V-shaped frame when viewed from the side as shown in Fig. 1 or from the front as viewed in Fig. 2.

The front strap 10 is adjustable lengthwise by a buckle l2 at the end of one section of the strap and eyelet openings l3 in the overlapped end of the other section. The rear strap H is similarly adjusted by a buckle l4 coactingwith openings I5. The overlapped folded portions of the straps pass freely through a hooked metal loop member l6.

The lower ends of the front strap ID are held in spaced apart relation by a horizontally disposed bit member l'l comprising a rigid bar formed of metal or other suitable material. The bar I! is connected to the lower ends of the strap 10 by screws l8 passing through the eyelet portions IQ of buckle member 20 suspended from the lower ends of the strap I0, and into screw threaded openings 21 in the ends of the bar. The bar may be covered with a sleeve 22 of rubberized material or other cushioning material. I

It will be understood that the bit member may be circular or any desired shape in cross section.

The bottom ends of the rear strap II are held in spaced apart relation by a horizontally disposed wide curved strap or pad 23 preferably having a cushioned pad 24 secured to its inner surface. The strap 23 is secured to the lower ends of the strap II by rivets 25 or other suitable fasteningmembers.

Stretched between each end of the bit member I? and each end of the curved strap 23 is a horizontally disposed sectional strap 26, the ends of the straps 26 being secured to the ends of the curved strap 23 by rivets 21. The front ends of the straps 26 are secured to the ends of the bit member by the screws 18 passing through buckle members 28 fastened to the ends of thestr'apsf 2". Each strap 26 may be adjusted lengthwise by a hooked buckle 29 adapted to engage in spaced eyelet openings 30.

In carrying out the invention; the cranium suspender is applied to the head with the strap members loosened 'and' with the bit member placed in the mouth and with the curved strap 23 placed behind at the base of the skull. The straps are then tightened so that the suspender assumes a close fit around the head of the patient. The hook member I6 will be connected to a suitable source of lifting power (not shown). When traction is applied, the main anterior and lateral lifting or pulling action by reason of the bit member will take place at the upper jaw and;

the posterior lifting action will take place at the rear of the skull.

Rings 3| and 32 may be secured to the sections of strap l0, adjacent their bottom ends, and similar spaced rings 33 secured to each of the straps 26 adjacent their ends. Rings 34 may also be secured to the rear horizontal strap 23.

Through these rings, the operator may by means sion in the muscles of the neck is found in practice to result when this apparatus is used. 4

The cranium is suspended by applying pressure to the upper part of the skull exclusively.

.That is, the cranium is suspended by the step of applying pressure on the upper jaw in a direction toward the crown of the skull and at the same time applying pressure on the back of the skull in the same direction. The suspension of the cranium permits nature to do its healing work on the skull and vertebrae. The hands of the operator may in addition be used for manipulating the skull and vertebrae to assist nature in its work and thus facilitate adjustment. The bit member may be used without the harness as the operator may manually press the bit member against the upper jaw for lifting the cranium anteriorly and laterally.

It has been found that suspension of the cranium by my improved method performed before a regular chiropractic adjustment facilitates such an adjustment and makes it easier and more effective. It has also been found that such improved method of suspending the cranium has a tendency to restore vigor and vitality to the human body.

While I have shown the bit member combined with harness having straps arranged as shown, it will be understood that different types of straps and different arrangements thereof may be used. It will also be understood that different forms of strap adjusting means may be used at different points.

By cranium is meant all of the bones of the skull except the lower jaw. In other words, from the occiput up, around and over to and including the bones of the face down to the upper jaw with or without teeth.

Changes in details of construction might be made without departing from the principle of the invention and parts of the invention might be used without other parts.

I claim:

1. A cranium suspender comprising a frame having a front inverted V-shaped strap, a rear inverted V-shaped strap, the apex portions of the straps overlapping each other, a curved pad connecting the bottom ends of the rear strap, a straight rigid bit member connecting the bottom ends of the front strap, and horizontally disposed straps connecting the ends of the bit member with the ends of the curved pad and means mounted on the overlapping portions of the front and rear straps.

2. A cranium suspender comprising a frame having a-front inverted V-shaped strap adjustable lengthwise, a rear inverted V-shaped strap adfjustable lengthwise, the apex portions of the cover on the bar.

straps overlapping each other, said straps being adapted to fit over a skull, a curved pad connecting the bottom ends of the rear strap and adapted to fit against the rear of the skull, a straight rigid bit connecting the bottom ends of the front strap and adapted to fit in the mouth, side straps connecting the ends of the bit and the ends of the curved pad, said side straps being adjustable lengthwise, and a hook member encircling the overlapped portions of the straps for connection to a support.

3. A cranium suspender comprising a substantially rigid front bit member adapted for transverse placement in the mouth of the user and being of a length-to extend beyond the sides of the mouth, a rear cranium supporting strap, a pair of side straps connecting the projecting ends of the bit to the ends of the rear strap, and suspensions means attached to the ends of the bit and the rear strap for exerting upward pressure of the bit member on the lower side of the upper aw.

4. A cranium suspender including a front substantially rigid bit member, a rear cranium engaging strap, the bit member adapted for mouth insertion and being of a length to have its ends project laterally of the mouth of the user and beyond the cheeks of the face, a pair of side straps extending between and connecting the ends of the bit member to the ends of the rear cranium-engaging strap and suspension means attached to the projecting ends of the bit member and the ends of the rear strap for exerting upward pressure of the bit member on the lower side of the upper jaw only.

5. A cranium suspender comprising vertically disposed front and rear straps, horizontally disposed side straps extending between the lower ends of the front and rear straps, a horizontally disposed rear strap connected to the rear ends of theside straps and forming a cranium support and I a' substantially rigid front bit member adapted to extend transversely of the mouth of the user and laterally beyond the cheeks of the face and engaged at its ends with the lower ends of thevertical front straps for exerting upward pressure on the lower side of the upper jaw only.

6. A craniumsuspender as in claim 3, wherein the bit member comprises a rigid bar and a cushioning cover on the bar.

7. A cranium suspender as in claim 3, wherein the bit member comprises an elongated metal bar rectangular in cross section and a cushioning JOHN D. PHILLIPS.

"' REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Industrial 8a Engineering Chemistry for Nov. 1937, page 1316. 

